Wrench



April 27, 1943. L. c. .JACKSON 2,317,461

WRENCH Filed March 22, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fler. 1

FIG. 2.

INVENTOR April 27, 1943. L C. JACKSON 2,317,461

WRENCH Filed March 22, 1940 ZSheets-Sheet 2 132 nl.l -f

INVENTOR Patented Apr. 27, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEr WRENCH Lucian C. Jackson, Buffalo, N. Y.

Application March 22, 1940, Serial No. 325,409

(-Cl. SI1-60) 4 Claims.

My invention relates to wrenches and more particularly to a ratchet wrench in which the ratchet pin operates the nut turning member, or socket, continuously in one direction so that a nut can be tightened by using one side of the wrench and loosened by using the other side of said wrench.

One of the objects is to provide a wrench of this type which will be simple in arrangement and structure to be produced at a comparatively low cost.

Another object is to provide a ratchet mechanism which is strong and durable and which will operate with a minimum of friction when running free.

Another object is to provide a wrench with improved means for retaining the socket in the head.

With these objects in view, the invention consists in certain features of novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts by which the said objects and certain other objects which will hereinafter appear are attained, the invention being more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a plan of one side of the wrench.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on lines 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is the upper half of the wrench above line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and showing the socket and ratchet mechanism in position.

Fig. 4 is the head portion of the upper half of my Wrench above line 4-4 of Fig. 5 and showing a modied ratchet mechanism and socket in. position, the socket being removable.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a section on line 'I--l of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is an elevation of the socket shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Fig. 9 is an elevation of the socket shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. 10 is a partial section on line III-I0 of Fig. 11 of a modied shape of handle and socket with the ratchet mechanism of Figs. 4 and 5, with the ratchet and socket readily removable.

Fig. 11 is a section on lines II-I I of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is the head portion of the wrench as in Fig. 11 but sectioned on lines I2I2 of Fig. 13 with the ratchet of Figs. 2 and 3 and the socket having a modified locking device.

Fig. 13 is a section on line I3I3 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a section on line I4--I4 of Fig. 15 of the locking ring shown in position in Fig. 11.

Fig. 15 is a plan of the locking ring of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a section on line IG-I 6 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 17 is a section online I'I-I 'I of Fig. 13.

My wrench consists essentially of a handle and a head having a circular opening therethrough for holding a nut turning socket which is operated by a ratchet mechanism consisting of a pin and a coiled spring extending into sai-d handle.

As a convenient and inexpensive means of holding the socket and ratchet mechanism l have shown in Figs. 1 to 9 a handle I and a head 2 formed from two pieces of suitable material placed together and fastened by means of rivets 3, 3 etc. If it is desirable to change the sockets for diierent size nuts, screws (as indicated at 3a) can be substituted for the rivets. When the two halves are formed from a metal stamping a convenient means of fasteneing is to spot Weld them together. These halves which are similar in shape, but right and left, are designated as 4 and 5 respectively.

B is a socket (outside view shown in Fig. 8)

-' rotatably locked in the annular chamber 'I formed by the two halves of the head 2. Each side of the head 2 has a circular opening 8 to form a bearing for the journals9, 9 of the socket 6. Extending through socket 6 is an opening I0 of suitable shape and size for engaging with a nut. Around the center of the periphery of the socket 6 is a flange I I in which the ratchet teeth indents I2 are formed. Each ratchet tooth indent I2 has a flat side I3 meeting at right angles with a fiat side I4. Flat sides I3 and I4 are adapted to t the end and side respectively of a ratchet pin I5, square in section as shown in Fig. 6. Bearing against the end of pin I5, opposite the ratchet teeth indents I2, is a coil spring I6 for keeping said pin I5 engaged with said ratchet teeth I2. The pin I5 and spring I6 are contained in a pocket I'I adjacent to the upper edge of the handle I (Fig. 3) as a convenient continuation of the oval border I8 which runs around the edge of said handle.

In the ordinary construction, as Womelsdorii, No. 272,822 or Chellis No. 658,618 and as in my patent, Moulthrop et al. No. 1,155,158 the center lines of the handle, the ratchet pin and the wrench head coincide, so that the strain of tightening a nut operates principally to shear off the unsupported end of the pin or to shear oil the tooth. Also in the usual construction the ratchet pin is beveled on the end to make it rise out of the tooth indent and this reduction in section weakens said pin at the point of greatest strain and in practice is the cause of most ratchet mechanism failures. This is illustrated by I2 in Fig. 2 of Chellis, No. 658,618 and it will also be noted that the weakest section of his tooth is at the bottom where it should be the strongest.

In my present invention, which is an improvement on my Patent No. 1,155,158 the pin is also of the same size throug-hout its length. However the pin centerline I9 is not directed toward the center or axis X of the socket 6 but is parallel to, and offset from the centerline 20 of the handle I a distance 22, While said handle centerline 20 is 'oiset from the socket center X a distance 2| so that the pin centerline I 9 is offset from the socket center X a distance 23. The offsetting of the handle centerline 20 a distance 2| from the socket center is to accommodate the inclosing of the pin I within the handle and in this instance is dependent on the offset 23 and the size of said pin I5. The oifset distance 23 of the pin centerline I9 from the center X of socket 6 is preferably about as shown, i. e. approximately one-half the distance from the socket center X to the periphery of the ratchet teeth. This offset distance 23 can vary from one-quarter to three-quarters o the radius to the periphery of the ratchet teeth depending on the size of the socket and the ratchet pin. It is desirable that practically the lwhole upper length of the ratchet pin I5 (Fig. 3), which is opposite to the side I4 of tooth indent I2, have a bearing inthe pocket I'I as the thrust from said tooth side I4 will then be backed up by said pocket wall. This gives increased strength to the pin over the pin shown in Patent No 1,155,158. The oisettingY of the ratchet pin as sho-wn provides a strong tooth as the side, or lead, I3 (extended, FigsA 3 and 13) would cut below the root of an adjacent tooth and hence sides I3 and Illy (extendedi pass on opposite sides of axis 155.

In offsetting the ratchet pin` the ratchet mechanisrn also works much easier than the usual type as the point cf the tooth on side I3 presses directly against the end of pin I5 in retracting said pin against its spring. I6. In the usual type where the pin has a beveled end, part of the force exerted to retract said pin is absorbed by pressing it against the side of its pocket.

In operating the wrench on a nut, the handle I is moved down in theV direction of arrow 24 (Fig. 3) when the lower end of pin I5 ,bearing against side I4 of a tooth indent I2 causes the socket and said nut to turn with the movement of said handle, while reversing the movement the socket is held stationary by the nut and the ratchet runs free, i. e. the pin I 5 is retracted to rise out of each tooth indent by the side- I-3 acting against the end of said pin. When right side 4 vof the wrench (Fig. 2) is on ai right hand thread nut, said nu-t will be screwed on `to a bolt, While if the left side 5 is on said nut it will be screwed off from said bolt.

In Figs. 4 and 5 the `handle I has a head 2a in which 8a is a circular transverse vopening therethrough to accommodate a socket-Ba hav- `ing ratchet teeth indents I2a with a fiat side I3 meeting a side Ilia. to form a right angle. -Fig. 9 shows outside View of socket 6a; Side I4a is semi-circular to fit a cylindrical ratchet'pin Ilia; Fig. 7 shows section of` said pin in pocket II-a.

Y In this construction socket 6a is retained in wrench head 2a by means of the ratchet pin a whiie engaged with ratchet teeth indents 12a or by the curved; groove 25, connecting the teeth indents in the periphery of said socket 3a, while passing between said teeth indents.

The corner of ratchet pin I5a lits the curve of groove 25 in passing from one tooth indent I2a to another and when in this position the socket 6a can be removed from head 2a by side pressure with the Ihands to force said pin I5a out of groove 25.

Figs, 10 to 17 show a handle Ia and head 2b in one piece, with a pin centerline I9 oiTset a distance 23 from the socket center X but with the pin centerline I9 crossing the handle centerline 2! at an angle so the pin and spring can be inserted through the side of said handle. 26 is a plug screw for the convenient removal of the the spring and pin.

Figs. l0 and 11 show the ratchet teeth indents Ia with the flat side I3 and the semi-circular side Ilia to fit the end and side of pin I5a respectively. Socket 6b is rotatably mounted in the circular transverse opening 8b and is retained in head 2b by means of a flange 21 on one side and a snap ring 28 in a groove 29 on the opposite side. Snap ring 28 is shown in detail in Figs. 14 and 15 with the split 3l] for springing open to insert ring in groove 29. Fig. 16 is section IIS-I6 of Fig. l0 and indicates shape of handle Ia and pin |511.

Socket Ec (Figs. 12 and 13) has ratchet teeth indents I2 with flat sides I3 and I4 which are formed down into its periphery to cooperate with a pin I5 with a square section as in Fig. 1'?. Socket 6c is retained in head 2b by pin I5 in a tooth indent I2 or by channel sides 3l, 3l when passing from one tooth indent to another. Opposite pin I5 is a screw 32 with end 33 which projects into and co-operates with the sides 3|, 3|l of the channel as additional means of retaining socket 5c in head 2b.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A wrench with a handle and an annular head, a socket to rotate in said head, one side of said socket used to tighten a nut and the opposite side used to loosen a nut, ratchet teeth formed by indents therebetween in the periphery of said socket, said teeth indents connected' by a curved depression in said periphery, a cylindrical ratchet pin of uniform section throughout its length and a spring, said ratchet teeth indents formed by two surfaces meeting at right angles to t the side and endv of said pin, `said pin directed'away from the axis of said socket and cooperating with the said curved depression in the periphery of said socket to yiel'dingly hold said socket in the head and whereby said socket maybe removed from said head by lateral pressure to retract said pin'.

2. A wrench witha handle and ahead. a nutturning socket for said head, ratchet teeth indents formed in the periphery of said socket, said teeth indents connected by a curved depression in said periphery, a cylindrical ratchet pin of uniform section throughout its length to ,cooperate with said indents and said curved depression, a spring to cooperate with said pin, said teeth-indents formed by two surfaces meetingat anangle to it the curved side and flat end of said pin, said pin directed away from the axis of said socket, said socket having ma`.rginal annular flanges projecting outwardly of the teeth aride a 'screwto cooperate with the said depression in said periphery between and engaged: with' said 'anges for holding the socket in the head. g

3. A wrench with a handle fand an annular head, a nut turning `'member'.oneend offwhich will tighten a nut and the opposite end of which will loosen a nut, ratchet teeth formed by ndents therebetween in the periphery of said member, an enclosed ratchet mechanism consisting of a spring and a cylindrical pin to cooperate with said ratchet teeth, said pin being operative on any side and directed away from the axis of said member, a curved groove connecting the indents between said teeth as a guide to yieldingly hold said member in the socket by the corner of said pin, whereby said socket may be removed from said head by lateral pressure to retract said pin.

4. A wrench with a handle and a head, said head having a transverse opening therethrough as a bearing for a socket, a socket, one end of which will tighten a nut and the opposite end of which will loosen a nut, said socket having a cylindrical surface for bearing in said head trans- Verse opening, ratchet teeth indents formed below said cylindrical surface by the meeting of two faces at an angle, said faces consisting of a at lead and a curved driving face, an enclosed ratchet mechanism including a spring and a pin, said pin being of a uniform cylindrical shape with squared ends to cooperate with said teeth and directed away from the axis ci said socket, and means to hold said socket in said yhead comprising a curved groove connecting said teeth indents to cooperate with said pin in passing between said teeth indents, whereby said socket is yieldingly held in said head by said pin and groove and can be dismounted from said head by lateral pressure to retract said pin.

LUCIAN C. JACKSON. 

